Kona Operator

What makes downhill bikes so special? They’re dependable. They get you through the craziest sections of trail. They’re fast. They teach you confidence. They’ve always been the go-to machines for when the going gets rough and tough. With a RockShox Boxxer Select Debonair up front and a Super Deluxe Coil Select in the rear, along with a dependable SRAM drivetrain, the Operator is your trusty companion for the heaviest hits and the fastest tracks.

Kona 6061 Aluminum
Kona 7005 and 6061 Aluminum alloys are used extensively throughout our fleet of mountain and asphalt bicycles. A tough, durable, light alloy, both Kona 7005 and 6061 deliver fantastic, reliable performance that lasts for thousands of rides. Much of our 7005/6061 tubing is butted and/or formed, meaning the tubing’s wall thickness can be increased or decreased, as well as shaped, so we can fine-tune a particular frame’s strength and ride characteristics depending on its intended application.

Internal Headset
Bearing cups are actually pressed into the frame and are easily removable. An internal headset also reduces stack height, so the height of the stem and bars are more adjustable, giving the rider the best fit possible.

Tapered Head Tube
More girth at the bottom of the head tube better distributes shock force, prolonging the bearing life of the headset itself and eliminating brake shudder, while providing confident steering performance. The inherent strength of its triangular design also means a stronger steering position and improved balance, giving the rider more control in rough terrain. A zero-stack, tapered head tube also puts strength where the load is going—into the lower headset cup—maximizing bearing durability where it’s needed.

12x157mm Axle
12x142mm, 12x148, and 12x157 rear axle standards provide two major advantages to the Kona rider: the 12mm diameter of the rear axle provides the rear hub and frame with a stiff interface, while the 142/148/157mm outer diameter of the hub allows the wheel to be quickly and properly positioned in the frame before the rear axle is inserted.

Beamer Independent Suspension
Built to be off-the-top progressive, Beamer Independent Suspension helps the bike to stay higher in the travel and recover from hits more quickly. The Operators are instilled with what our product managers like to call "pure shock movement," whereby the shock is protected from side load. Designed to be highly tuneable and extremely durable, the Beamer IS is our version of greased lightning.

27.5"+ Wheels
The benefits of the 27.5-inch wheel are simple: they roll over obstacles and track better than 26-inch wheels, but are more maneuverable and nimble than 29-inch ones.